Knock-down sofa

ABSTRACT

A knock-down seating device including a frame comprising a base supporting at least one cushion thereon, a pair of side walls and a back wall. The back wall is connected to each side wall at a freely detachable tongue and groove joint. The joint is held securely together via the use of detachable, two-component fastening tape, such as VELCRO. One portion of the base component of the tape is located within a recess in the side wall and a second and separate portion of the base component of the tape is located in the recess in the back wall which is contiguous with the recess in the side wall. The top component of the tape bridges the two portions of the bottom component and is detachably fastened thereto to effect the securement of the joint. A decorative cover is provided over the outer surface of the top component of the tape.

United States Patent 1191 Gans [ 1 Dec. 30, 1975 [54] KNOCK-DOWN SOFA 22 Filed: Nov. 4, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 520,708

[52] US. Cl 297/440; 297/DIG. 6 [51] Int. Cl. A47C 7/00 [58] Field of Search 297/440, 442, 443, DIG. 6;

403/402, 403, 405407, 231, 382; 24/DIG. 18

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,188,137 6/1965 Sarvas 297/DIG. 6 3,571,999 3/1971 Downing 24/DlG. 18 3,695,690 10/1972 Carson 297/D1G. 6 3,774,966 11/1973 Faulkner 297/440 Primary ExaminerJames C. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or FirmCaesar, Rivise, Bernstein & Cohen [57] ABSTRACT A knock-down seating device including a frame comprising a base supporting at least one cushion thereon, a pair of side walls and a back wall. The back wall is connected to each side wall at a freely detachable tongue and groove joint. The joint is held securely together via the use of detachable, two-component fastening tape, such as VELCRO. One portion of the base component of the tape is located within a recess in the side wall and a second and separate portion of the base component of the tape is located in the recess in the back wall which is contiguous with the recess in the side wall. The top component of the tape bridges the two portions of the bottom component and is detachably fastened thereto to effect the securement of the joint. A decorative cover is provided over the outer surface of the top component of the tape.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,929,375

mda/ \\L US. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,929,375

KNOCK-DOWN SOFA This invention relates generally to furniture and more particularly to knock-down seating devices.

Due to various economic factors and the increased mobility of people in todays industrialized society, a deep need has developed and presently exists for furniture which can be manufacture, transported and assembled inexpensively, quickly and easily. To that end, various types of knock-down furniture have been proposed and are available.

As is known, knock-down furniture is a designation for a type of furniture construction wherein the furniture is shipped from the factory in a disassembled state and is arranged to be readily assembled by the user without the need for any special effort or skill.

While occasional furniture, such as, chairs, small tables, etc., are frequently designed and have found substantial commercial acceptance utilizing knockdown construction techniques, large pieces of furniture utilizing such techniques have not heretofore met with any widespread commercial acceptance. The reason for the failure to gain such acceptance is primarily based upon esthetic considerations since knock-down furniture in order to be simple enough to enable the ready assemblage and disassemblage thereof, invariably gives a flimsy or temporarily constructed look and not the finished and integral look of conventionally constructed furniture.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

It is a further object of this invention to provide knock-down furniture which, when assembled, has the look of conventionally assembled furniture.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide knowk-down seating furniture which can be readily assembled and disassembled, is low in cost and which, once assembled has the look of conventionally assembled furniture.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide knock-down seating furniture which is extremely sturdy in construction and yet which is held together by extremely simple connection means.

These and other objects of this invention are achieved by providing a knock-down seating device comprising a frame for supporting at least one cushion thereon. The frame comprises a back wall, a side wall and a base for the cushion. The base is supported by the back wall and the side wall. The back wall and the side wall are connected to each other by a freely detachable joint. The joint is secured together by a fastening tape.

Other objects in many of the attendant advantages of this invention will readily be appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a knock-down sofa in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the sofa shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown in FIG. 1 a sofa constructed in accordance with this invention. Sofa 20 is of a knock-down construction for ready assemblage, disassemblage and 2 transportation and basically comprises a supporting frame 22 and a plurality of pillows or cushions 24 and 26. As can be seen three similar pillows 24 are provided and serve as the seat of the sofa and a single large pillow 26 serves as a back cushion thereof.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame basically comprises a vertically oriented, rectangularly shaped, planar back wall 28, whose construction will be described in detail later, a pair of vertically oriented, rectangularly shaped, planar side walls 30, whose construction will also be described later, and a rectangular shaped, planar base panel 32. One side wall 30 is connected at each end of the back wall 28 by a respective freely detachable joint 34.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention the joints are tightly secured together by readily detachable tape fastening means 36, such as VELCRO tape, manufactured by Velcro Manufacturing Company of Manchester, N.I'I. The details of the 20 joint 34 and the joint securement means 36 will be described in detail later.

The base panel 32 is a planar member upon which the pillows 24 are disposed and is supported by the frame 22 above the ground and tilted slightly upward toward the front in the interest of seating comfort. Means for supporting the panel 32 comprise plural support ribs 38. The ribs are elongated members with one rib being secured, via any suitable connection means (not shown), to the inside face of the back wall 28 parallel to and adjacent the ground upon which the sofa is disposed. Similar elongated ribs are secured to the inside surfaces of each of the side walls and extend upward from back to front in order to support the panel in a tilted orientation heretofore described. The base panel 32 is disposed upon the ribs with the back edge 42 of the panel overlying the rib 38 on the back wall and with the side edges 44 of the panel overlying the ribs 38 on the respective side walls of the frame.

In order to hold the panel 32 in place and to prevent it from sliding out of the sofa a front panel 46 is provided. The front panel is an elongated member including a flange 48 at each end. Each flange of the panel portion contiguous therewith is adapted for disposition whithin a mating groove 50in the front portion of each side wall of the frame and is secured in place by tape fastening means 36. As can be seen the groove 50 is disposed at about the height of the front end of the support rib 38 and includes two portions, one portion 52, being in the outside face 54 of the side wall 30 immediately adjacent to front face or edge 56 thereof and the other portion, 58, of the groove 50 being in the front edge 56 and contiguous with portion 52.

When the front panel is mounted in place with its flanges disposed in the respective grooves in the side walls and secured in place therein the upper edge 60 of the front panel extends slightly above the top surface 62 of the base panel 32 to completely conceal the front edge 64 thereof and also to provide a lip which precludes the pillows 24 from sliding out the front of the sofa.

As can be seen in FIG. 3 the back wall 28 of the sofa is a hollow member having a standard interior frame 66, preferably formed of a hard wood, to which planar panels 68, and 72, such as plywood having a decorative veneer thereon, are secured. The planar panel 68 forms the front face 40 of the back wall, the planar panel 70 forms the back face of the back wall and the planar panels 72 form the respective edges or edge 3 faces of the back wall. A top panel 74 (FIGS. 1 and 2) serves to complete the back wall.

In the interest of design, the edges of all of the panels forming the back wall are mitered (see FIG. 3) so that the only seams at all visible are along the edge corners of the back wall.

The side walls are constructed in an identical manner to each other and also include a standard interior frame 66 to which planar panels 76, 78 and 80, such as plywood having a decorative veneer thereon, are secured. The planar panel 76 forms the outside face 54 of the side wall, the panel 78 forms the inside face of the side wall and, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the panel 80 forms the front edge face 56 of the side wall. The back edge of the side wall is formed by frame 66 and is concealed when the side wall is secured to the back wall. Like back wall 28, side walls 30 also include top panels 82 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which complete the side wall. The lateral edges of the panel forming the side walls are mitered in a similar manner as the panels forming the back wall so that the only seams visible are along the edge corners of the side wall.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 the detachable joints 34 are of the tongue and groove type. To that end, a respectively elongated groove 84 is provided in the front panel 68 of the back wall closely adjacent to each edge face 72 thereof. The groove 84 extends for almost a full height of the back wall but does not extend into the top panel 74 thereof so as to be completely concealed when the frame is connected. A tongue 86 projects from frame 66 and extends almost a full length thereto and is adapted to mate with groove 84 to effect the connection of the side wall 30 to the back wall 28.

The frame securement means 36, as noted heretofore, consists of VELCRO tape. As is known, such tape consists of two separable strips. One component strip has a back surface and a front surface having a large plurality of loop-like elements thereon and the other component strip has a front surface and a back surface having a large plurality of hook-like elements thereon. The strips are adapted to be secured to each other by the coaction of the hook-like elements and the looplike elements. To that end the strips are abutted, such that the hook-like elements contact and intertwine the loop-like elements to effect the securement between the two strips. The resulting securement between the strips is very firm yet the strips can be readily detached by pulling one off the other.

In order to effect the securement of the components of the sofa frame 22, one component of the tape 36, includes two separate portions 86 and 88, which portions are secured within respective recesses within the walls forming the frame 22. For example, one portion 86 of one component of the tape 36 is disposed and secured by an adhesive on its rear surface, within a recessed 90 in the side panel 76 of the side wall 30 and the second and separate portion of that component of the tape is similarly disposed and secured within a recess 92 in the edge panel 72 and back panel 70 of the back wall 28.

The other component of the tape 36 is denoted by the reference numeral 94 and is an integral strip which is arranged to bridge the two separate portions 86 and 88 to secure these portions to itself and hence to each other.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention, the portions 86 and 88 are formed of the component having the loop-like elements on its front 4 surface since the loops are relatively soft and hence do not present any rough surface when the second component of the tape is not connected thereto.

The second component 94 includes a decorative cover 96, such as leather or simulated leather, on its outer surface, such that when the strip 94 is in place, it not only secures the joint together and completely covers the two portions 86 and 88 of the other component of the fastening means, but is also serves as a decoration for the frame 22.

The recesses in the frame walls are made of sufficient depth that when the fastening tape means 36 is in place, the top surface of its component 96 is substantially flush with the outer surface of the frame 22 to provide a clean line.

The front panel 46 is secured to the end walls 30 through the use of similarly constructed fastening tape 36, whose components are disposed within recesses and 92 in a manner like that described heretofore.

The use of VELCRO tape to effect the securement of the frame of the sofa enables such securement to be effected rapidly and without the use of any tools or special techniques. In addition, by virtue of the releaseability of the components of the tape, the frame of the sofa can be disassembled easily. This feature is of considerable importance when it is desired to move or tansport the sofa.

It should be pointed out a this juncture that while the drawings and the specification have described a knockdown sofa, it is to be understood that this invention encompasses the construction of all types of seating devices such as love seats, divans, sectional sofas, chairs, etc.

As should thus be appreciated, the seating device of this invention is simple in construction, can be readily assembled and disassembled and transported, yet once assembled, has the look of conventional integrally constructed furniture.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A knock-down seating device comprising a frame supporting at least one cushion thereon, said frame comprising a back wall, a side wall and base for said cushion and supported by said back and said side walls, said back and side walls being connected to each other by a freely detachable joint, said joint being secured together by a fastening tape comprising first and second components, one of said components having two separate portions and the other component having only a single portion, one of said components having a plurality of hook-like elements thereon and the other component having a plurality of loop-like elements thereon, one separate portion of one component being permanently secured to the back wall and the other separate portion of said one component being permanently secured to the side wall, said other component bridging both of the separate portions of the said one component and being releasably secured to each.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first component has said plural hook-like elements thereon and wherein said second component has said plural loop-like elements thereon.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said second component includes said two separate portions.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the back wall and the side wall each have outer surfaces and the separate portions of the second component are disposed within respective recesses formed in the outer surfaces of said back wall and side wall.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said joint is a tongue and groove joint.

6. The device of claim 2 additionally comprising a front panel disposed within a notch in said side wall and secured in place by the use of a releaseable tape comprising a first and a second component, said first component having a plurality of hook-like elements thereon and the second component having a plurality of looplike elements thereon, with one of said components being formed of two separate portions, one portion being secured to the side wall and one portion being secured to the front panel, said second component 6 bridging both of the portions of the first component and being releasably secured thereto.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the second component includes the separate portions which are secured to the back wall and the side wall, respectively.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the front panel has an outer surface and wherein the separate portions of the second component which are secured to the side wall and the front panel are disposed within respective recesses formed in the outer surfaces of the side wall and the front panel.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the first component of said tape includes a decorative covering on the outside thereof.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the first component of said tape includes a decorative covering on the outside thereof. 

1. A knock-down seating device comprising a frame supporting at least one cushion thereon, said frame comprising a back wall, a side wall and base for said cushion and supported by said back and said side walls, said back and side walls being connected to each other by a freely detachable joint, said joint being secured together by a fastening tape comprising first and second components, one of said components having two separate portions and the other component having only a single portion, one of said components having a plurality of hook-like elements thereon and the other component having a plurality of loop-like elements thereon, one separate portion of one component being permanently secured to the back wall and the other separate portion of said one component being permanently secured to the side wall, said other component bridging both of the separate portions of the said one component and being releasably secured to each.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first component has said plural hook-like elements thereon and wherein said second component has said plural loop-like elements thereon.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said second component includes said two separate portions.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein the back wall and the side wall each have outer surfaces and the separate portions of the second component are disposed within respective recesses formed in the outer surfaces of said back wall and side wall.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said joint is a tongue and groove joint.
 6. The device of claim 2 additionally comprising a front panel disposed within a notch in said side wall and secured in place by the use of a releaseable tape comprising a first and a second component, said first component having a plurality of hook-like elements thereon and the second component having a plurality of loop-like elements thereon, with one of said components being formed of two separate portions, one portion being secured to the side wall and one portion being secured to the front panel, said second component bridging both of the portions of the first component and being releasably secured thereto.
 7. ThE device of claim 6 wherein the second component includes the separate portions which are secured to the back wall and the side wall, respectively.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein the front panel has an outer surface and wherein the separate portions of the second component which are secured to the side wall and the front panel are disposed within respective recesses formed in the outer surfaces of the side wall and the front panel.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the first component of said tape includes a decorative covering on the outside thereof.
 10. The device of claim 8 wherein the first component of said tape includes a decorative covering on the outside thereof. 